Urgelling Monastery of Arunachal Pradesh was first of the three monasteries built by Urgen Sangpo, the youngest brother of Terton Pempalingpa, the famous Treasure-Revealer. Urgelling Monastery was built sometime before the year 1489 AD. This was the place were in 1683 AD Tsangyang Gyatso, the Sixth Dalai Lama was born.
About Urgelling Monastery :
Urgelling monastery stands at a short distance of 5 km, south of the Tawang Township in Arunachal Pradesh. It was the first of the three monasteries built by Urgen Sangpo, the youngest brother of Terton Pempalingpa, the famous Treasure-Revealer. Urgelling Monastery was built sometime before the year 1489 AD. This was the place were in 1683 AD Tsangyang Gyatso; the Sixth Dalai Lama was born.
Features Of Urgelling Monastery In Arunacahl Pradesh :
The birth of the Sixth Dalai lama was preceded by many occurrences indicating the birth of a holy child. During her pregnancy, the Lama’s mother experienced some very divine phenomenon. A stream of water turned to a stream of milk, when the mother drank water from the stream.
During his early days of infancy, the holy Lama was saved miraculously from an illness, made possible by the Dalai Lama’s guardian Deity, Dorjee Dahpa.
When it became known to the world that the boy was the incarnation of the Dalai Lama, he inscribed the word “God knows” in a stone slab with his finger. This stone slab with the inscription can be seen even today.
Lajan Khan deposed the 6th Dalai Lama in 1706. The forces of Lagan Khan destroyed the Monastery, restored and augmented by the Lama in 1714 in an attempt to obliterate the memory of the Dalai Lama.
It is also believed that a Mongolian warrior called Sokpa Jomkhar, who was against the non-Gelugpa sect of Buddhists, destroyed the Monastery.
To safeguard all the valuable possession of the Urgyanling Monastery from further pilfering and destruction, it was handed over to the Tawang Monastery.
Only a modest temple can be seen today at the place of the Monastery, which was much bigger in the older days.
Road Transport :
Arunachal State Transport operates bus service to Bomdila on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays (8hr). Private buses also ply daily via Bomdila up to Tezpur, departing around noon, these buses arrive at Tawang the next day morning. Jeep services are also available from Tezpur stationed at about 200mts from the Bus stand. They ply daily from Tezpur early in the morning to the Tawang City Gate.
Staying Near The Urgelling Monastery :
Comfortable accommodations are available in plenty for all visiting tourists.